 Tagline: You will believe. One of the most memorable romantic films ever and winner of two Academy Awards®, Sam (Patrick Swayze, living as a ghost, discovers his death wasn't just a random robbery gone bad. To help him reconnect with the love of his life, Molly (Demi Moore), and solve his murder, he enlists he talents of a skeptical psychic (Oscar®-winner Whoopi Goldberg), who doesn't even believe her own abilities. Ghost is a supernatural mystery-thriller that will cross over into your heart and never leave. Storyline: Sam and Molly are a very happy couple and deeply in love. Walking back to their new apartment after a night out at the theatre, they encounter a thief in a dark alley, and Sam is murdered. He finds himself trapped as a ghost and realises that his death was no accident. He must warn Molly about the danger that she is in. But as a ghost he can not be seen or heard by the living, and so he tries to communicate with Molly through Oda Mae Brown, a psychic who didn't even realise that her powers were real. Written by Sami Al-Taher Reviewer's Note: Reviewed by Dustin Somner, July 12, 2009 -- I'll be the first to admit I'm not usually a fan of romantic films. As with most married men, I'm willing to sit down and soak up the latest romance offering at my wife's calling, but I've never picked a romantic movie in place of the latest explosion-laden action film when given the choice at my local rental store. I know tales of lost love are a guilty pleasure to some fellows out there (I have a close friend who takes a lot of heat for being one of those guys), so I mean no disrespect to any guys that fall into the camp that love the genre, but I rarely find much value in the sappy, tear-jerking elements of most romance films. Naturally, my wife has the same off-putting reaction to films such as Predator, Die Hard and countless other action films I hold in high regard, so we each accept the fact that we will continue to agree to disagree when it comes to film genres.Ghost on the other hand, is one of those rare romance films I've been able to enjoy over the years. Blending comedy, action and drama, Ghost never descends into the generic, boredom-inducing depths that characterize so many other entries in the romance genre and even manages to remain a fresh experience nearly twenty years after its original release. Sam Wheat (Patrick Swayze) is a high-level bank executive who recently moved in with his girlfriend Molly (Demi Moore). Knowing everything is going well in his life, he has a feeling something bad is right around the corner and expresses his concerns to Molly, who in turn suggests they get married. Sadly, their dreams of a life together are dashed when Sam is shot dead in a botched mugging on their way home from a play. Unwilling to leave Molly alone in her grief, Sam's spirit rejects a calling from heaven and he finds himself living among countless other spirits with their own reasons for delaying the afterlife. Existing among the living, but unable to communicate with anyone aside from a goofy psychic named Oda Mae (Whoopi Goldberg), Sam unknowingly stumbles onto a plot surrounding his murder. Fearing for Molly's safety, Sam enlists Oda Mae's help in tracking down those responsible for his death and begins his own game of cat and mouse from beyond the grave.Oddly enough, this is probably the fifth time I've seen the film, but my first viewing in around ten years. As a result, I never had the opportunity to see it on DVD, but remember enjoying the film on several occasions during the VHS era. I'm only mentioning this because I'd completely forgotten the charming nature of Ghost and was delighted at the opportunity to watch the film several years later from a critical standpoint.If you're among the sparse crowd that was never been introduced to Ghost, you owe it to yourself to give the film a shot. Director Jerry Zucker made a name for himself with the comedic gem Airplane!, but Ghost was the first film where he was given the opportunity to show his range of talent by dabbling in different genres. Switching on the fly between thrilling action, hilarious comedy, and edge-of-your-seat tension, Zucker took what could have been a contrived story and turned it into a film that can be enjoyed by fans of any genre. Don't let the Blu-ray cover fool you into thinking this is merely a steamy romance production with the Righteous Brothers playing in the background, since that's only a fraction of the total experience.Fortunately, the acting held up equally well over the years, with Patrick Swayze and Whoopi Goldberg turning in performances that have a tendency to steal the show (it's no surprise Goldberg landed a similar role in Sister Act only two years after winning the Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her part in Ghost). The scene where Sam spews sarcastic remarks while Oda Mae swindles a client is downright hilarious, and Swayze's musical rendition of Henry the 8th (meant to annoy Oda Mae into helping him communicate with Molly) is one of many classic moments that brought a smile to my face. Tony Goldwyn and Demi Moore aren't nearly as memorable, but they still nail their respective roles despite the lack of emotional range required of their characters. If you're in need of a break from the tear-jerking underpinnings of most romance classics, this is the film that broke the mold. I'm somewhat surprised with the critical praise that's been heaped on Ghost for the romantic aspects of the production. There definitely is a love story at the heart of the film and you can expect a fair share of romantic elements throughout its runtime, but it almost feels like a disservice to label Ghost as an entry in the romance genre. I know I'm going out on a limb by saying this, but I'd recommend the film to male and female viewers alike, since I believe it offers a little something special for fans of any genre. Taken as a whole, the new Blu-ray edition of Ghost offers a strong technical presentation despite the age of the production and I'd expect long-time fans will be more than happy with the effort Paramount has put into this release. Cast Notes: Patrick Swayze (Sam Wheat), Demi Moore (Molly Jensen), Tony Goldwyn (Carl Bruner), Stanley Lawrence (Elevator Man), Christopher J. Keene (Elevator Man), Susan Breslau (Susan), Martina Deignan (Rose [as Martina Degnan]), Rick Kleber (Mover [as Richard Kleber]), Macka Foley (Mover), Rick Aviles (Willie Lopez), Phil Leeds (Emergency Room Ghost), John Hugh (Surgeon), Sam Tsoutsouvas (Minister), Sharon Breslau (Cemetery Ghost [as Sharon Breslau Cornell]), Vincent Schiavelli (Subway Ghost). User Comment: lynx99, 13 March 1999 • Ghost is one of my favorite films. It is romantic and touching. Ghost shows the love that transcends even death. The chemistry between Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze is incredible. The way they look at one another is sexier than any of those very graphic "love scenes". They make a real romantic connection just through their eyes. Ghost not only has wonderful, likeable characters in Sam Wheat, Molly Jensen, and Oda Mae Brown, but it has an engrossing plot that moves right along. Entwined in all this is a beautiful score. The theme song "Ghost", written by Maurice Jarre specifically for the movie, is enchanting, and, of course, an oldie, "Unchained Melody", adds another magical touch to a magical film. Summary: This is one of the most touching love stories ever made. IMDb Rating (04/21/15): 7.0/10 from 138,661 users IMDb Rating (01/07/12): 6.9/10 from 69,537 users
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